Emily stared blankly at her phone.
The cool breeze from the rainy mist drifted in through the window. After a long silence, she let out a soft sigh.
The next day, the rain stopped.
That's how summer is. After each downpour, the weather becomes even hotter. The sun blazed fiercely in the clear sky, and the tree leaves shimmered so brightly they almost dazzled. The thick branches were alive with the incessant buzzing of cicadas, and in the gardens of the villas lining the road, all kinds of vibrant flowers were in full bloom.
In the afternoon, the wind that blew her way was warm, carrying the heat of the day. The mountain road stretched straight and wide, but there were few pedestrians, and even fewer cars passing by.
Emily was the only one walking.
The bus stopped at the foot of the hill. Apparently, everyone who lived in this villa district owned private cars. Emily had been walking along the road for about forty minutes now, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on her back. She figured she must be close by—according to the voice on the phone, Ryan's house was the white villa perched at the highest point of the hillside.
She could faintly make out the elegant silhouette of a white European-style mansion nestled among the lush trees. It stood tall and stately, exuding an air of grace and sophistication.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she continued up the hill, shading her eyes from the glaring sun while breathing in the crisp mountain air. As she rounded a bend in the road, a white Mercedes approached from ahead. The car glided smoothly through the dappled shadows cast by the trees, its polished white exterior understated yet refined. The pace of the car was leisurely, as it passed her without haste.
The gentle strains of music floated out from within the car, carried by the breeze as it drifted into Emily's ears.
She froze in her tracks—
That song...
It was the same one Young had loved since middle school. He would always play it while doing homework or right before falling asleep.
The white BMW glided past her, brushing by with an eerie sense of familiarity.
In shock, Emily turned her head—
Inside the car, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure she knew all too well: the gentle curve of smiling lips, neatly trimmed hair, a straight, refined nose, and elegant yet unpretentious features...
The scorching sunlight blazed down like a fiery orb.
The white BMW drove past her rigid body.
By the time Emily managed to suppress the overwhelming dizziness and tried to get another look at who was inside that car—
Only a distant white speck remained at the end of the winding mountain road.
The wind rustled through the treetops, and the world grew eerily quiet, leaving only the sound of her unsteady breath and the wild pulse of blood surging through her veins.
She wanted to chase after the car.
But her body felt frozen, as if she were a puppet whose strings had been cruelly severed.
She wanted to call out that name.
But the sound strangled in her throat, rasping painfully, as if she might cough up blood in the very next moment.
The white BMW vanished completely, leaving nothing behind.
She closed her eyes, her legs gave way, and suddenly the last ounce of strength drained from her body. She collapsed onto the ground, burying her head between her knees.
The mountain road was eerily silent.
There was not a soul in sight. The leaves swayed gently, while the cicadas continued their relentless, desperate cries. The sunlight was blinding, almost dizzying in its intensity.
Emily's shoulders shook slightly.
On the mountainside, her small figure resembled that of a lost child.
Dusk began to fall.
The road gradually took on a soft crimson hue.
Cars started to appear more frequently, but she remained there, huddled at the roadside like a small, forsaken creature. Each vehicle that passed honked its horn, but it seemed she didn't hear them. It was as if no sound existed anymore in her world.
She had no idea how much time had passed.
Just as the sun was about to completely set—
A voice, sharp with irritation, rang out in front of her.
"What are you doing here?"